Ethiopia’s INSA agency selects Eutelsat for Ethiosat TV platform

One day ahead of the NexTV CEO event in Mauritius, Ethiopia’s Information Network Security Agency (INSA), in charge of the transformation of the country’s high-tech and security industry, officialised the launch of Ethiosat, its new TV platform. INSA has inked a multi-year contract with Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) for capacity at its 7/8° West neighbourhood, the pole position for satellite TV in the Middle East and North Africa. Launching with nine national channels, Ethiosat will progressively ramp-up with additional content.

A single satellite TV platform

Ethiopia’s national satellite TV landscape currently features more than 30 channels that broadcast from multiple satellites. The new platform offers licensed channels the opportunity to broadcast in a single platform, ensuring easy reception for TV homes across the country and accelerating digital take-up. The first channels, including EBC (Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation) and Oromia TV[1], are available to homes on a Free-to-Air (FTA) basis. Multiple national and regional channels as well as commercial broadcasters are also candidates for inclusion in the flagship platform.

Easier route to digital entertainment

Viewers can access Ethiosat using a single 90cm antenna and set-up box rather than sourcing content through multiple providers at multiple orbital positons. The new platform also taps into the installed base of antennas already equipped for reception from the popular 7/8° West neighbourhood.

A game-changer for Ethiopia’s media landscape

Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s Chief Commercial and Development Officer, said: “This contract puts EUTELSAT 8 West B firmly on Ethiopia’s broadcasting map and is indicative of a new wave of growth in the country’s digital TV market. The pull of our 7/8° West neighbourhood is driven by a strong channel line-up of over 1,200 channels and the diversity and exclusivity of free-to-air content.”

Gebremeskel Teklemariam, Directorate Director at INSA, added: “Ethiosat will be a game-changer for our media landscape. In drawing on the rich experience and expertise of Eutelsat, INSA can broadcast a diverse line-up of services across Ethiopia, further enriching the 7/8° West satellite neighbourhood with quality and compelling content.”